Mindfulness-based interventions for competitive anxiety in athletes: the moderating role of control type-Preliminary
1School of Arts and Social Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Abstract:
This meta-analysis examined the effects of mindfulness-based interventions (MBI) on competitive anxiety in athletes. Eighteen controlled trials (N = 667) from seven databases were included. Random-effects modeling revealed a moderate overall effect favoring MBI [g = -0.53, 95% CI (-0.74, -0.32), I 2 = 63%], with greater reductions in cognitive anxiety (g = -0.58) than somatic anxiety (g = -0.41). Control type was the only statistically significant moderator (p = 0.005): MBI showed moderate effects vs. waitlist controls (g = -0.66) but near-zero effects vs. active controls (g = -0.05). Total intervention hours did not significantly predict effect size (β = -0.025, p = 0.062). Trim-and-fill adjustment yielded g = -0.44. Because the active-control stratum contained only three comparisons, the near-zero estimate against active comparators should be treated as preliminary. The observed pattern is nevertheless compatible with the interpretation that the anxiety reduction attributable to MBI reflects, to a substantial extent, nonspecific intervention factors rather than mindfulness-specific mechanisms.
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